- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 18
3 September 2026: Luke 5:1-11
Key Verse: Luke 5:5
Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’
Devotion:
I love the way Jesus would use everything around him to reach out to people, whether it was in a persons home healing them or out in a boat on a lake near the shore teaching people. He took what was at hand and used it for God's glory!
When Simon first questioned Jesus, it was out of experience and probably exhaustion too. He had been fishing to no avail, and this carpenter was telling him where to fish and when!
When they pulled in two boat loads of fish he had no problem listening to Jesus after that! Did it really need that deed to get Simon to listen properly to God?
Many a time we are too caught up in the world as we understand it that we lose sight of the world as God sees it; we limit his power by what we think instead of by what God actually knows!
Points to ponder:
Are you struggling because you can't see it?
Will you step forward and trust Christ!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 19
2 September: Haggai 2:10-19
Key Verse: Haggai 2:12
If one carries consecrated meat in the fold of one’s garment, and with the fold touches bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, or any kind of food, does it become holy? The priests answered, ‘No.’
Devotion:
One of the things the people of Israel were very hot on was making sure they had loads and loads of rules for absolutely everything to try and make sure they did not do things which God had told them were wrong in some way.
Unfortunately, like a badly taught AI model, they had built rules upon rules upon rules and they were loosing their way in what God really wanted from them
Their rules would make some things clean and other things unclean just because of a touch against something which was unclean. But they dare not say something was clean just because it was touched by something which was deemed holy in some manner!
They were placing higher authority on their rules than on the wishes of God; something we need t be very aware of and avoid going down the same rabbit hole with!
Points to ponder:
Are you putting more emphasis on your rules rather than the wishes of God?
Are you ready to give in to God's wishes in your life?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 19
1 September: 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:11
For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God.
Devotion:
As we go a bit deeper into this chapter from our bibles, we see a pattern appearing from Paul and his teaching/writings. Not a patter of self importance or accomplishments, but of giving God the glory for all things!
I love the words he uses here to remind the people he is writing to that it is not through doing things to make himself look good or seem intelligent but rather to remind others exactly where he gets any wisdom and any strengths he has - from God!
The Holy Spirit is his teacher since Jesus went back to heaven to be with God, he made sure we have the Holy Spirit here with us as our teacher and our rock upon which we can stand firm.
The more we realise how much God can and does do for us, the more strength we gain from depending on God. Be more like Paul and rest on the strength of God in the Holy Spirit!
Points to ponder:
How much do you go to the gym to gain strength?
How much do you listen to the Holy Spirit to gain spiritual strength?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 21
31 August: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:5
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
Devotion:
I do like the approach the Apostle Paul had to writing the the churches in Corinth. He did not want to seem like a pious authority with a great education and boasting of his accomplishments!
Rather, he approached them as a person without great education, but a person who was willing to listen to God and to obey the teaching of Jesus Christ - the teaching God gave to his son!
When we build up our accomplishments or the things around us as if we were the maker or author of things, we will not get any further recognition from anyone other than thank or congratulations for a job well done.
But when we rest of the things of God and what he teaches us to pass on to others, they will be more inclined to look further into things because they can see something which goes far deeper than you accomplishments!
Points to ponder:
Do you do things for self recognition?
Or do you do things to try and bring glory to God?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 22
August 30: Romans 12:9-21
Key Verse: Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Devotion:
One of the hardest things to do may well be to bless those people who are doing things against you! We hear so much about 'an eye for an eye' and such sayings, but very little about love them instead.
You have probably heard it enough times: 'you have to love them, you don't have to like them...' But God says we should also bless them, which means going out of you way for someone who is not on your favourites list!
If we look at social networks, it is easy to like comments from people you like and to block people who you don't like. I fear that social networks have added to the ring of hate more than gossip does!
God wants our love to be genuine, which does mean going out of your way to help someone just because they need help - not because you like them, not because they have helped you in the past, just because they need help!
Points to ponder:
How often do you help your friends?
How often do you help strangers?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 21
August 29: Mark 8:1-10
Key Verse: Mark 8:6
Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd.
Devotion:
On this day in our church we are getting ready for a community BBQ and teddy bears picnic at our church, a summer event we have started to bring our community together. What with the drought in the UK and fears of wildfires, things will probably look a bit different!
But we trust God to bring people together and to share what we do in our church with everyone and allow them to feel more part of our parish and our church.
Jesus had compassion on the people who had been following him and the disciples for days. Now he wanted to give back to them and encourage them to be a part of his church.
Being a Christian does not mean closing yourself off in a church on Sunday to worship YOUR God. It means bringing people together to share OUR God!
Points to ponder:
How often do you invite people to church?
How often do you share stuff with people even if they do not come to church?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 18
August 28: Matthew 25:1-13
Key Verse: Matthew 25:13
Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Devotion:
I have always been in two minds about this passage because of the sequence of events and how the bridesmaids reacted - never mind the fact there are multiple bridesmaids and one groom...
But the essence of this passage is to remind us we do not know the time or place Jesus is going to return for us, so we do need to be ready at all times, and as the scouts say 'be prepared!'
Those whom were really ready for the event made sure they took spare oil in case there were delays. They were prepared to wait and be there, ready, when the time came.
Maybe some of them were more worried about their appearance instead of their readiness. Maybe some of them were not so sincere. The truth comes out in the end and the groom chooses those who are ready!
Points to ponder:
How often do you get caught up in things and don't talk with God?
I know I am guilty and hence why sometimes devotions may be delayed...
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 28
August 27: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:2
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Devotion:
Do you know what God does in other people's lives? Do you know what God does in your life?
If we were to spend a little more time thinking about what God does for each one of us, we would spend a whole lot more time thanking him for doing all the things he does in our lives!
God does not just belong us me, or us, or just Anglicans or just Baptists. God is there for every single one of us in this world. Every person is able to call on him at whenever or for whatever; he does not limit our time or bill us by the minute.
This relationship with God is free for every person on earth (and even those off the earth in space ships) and he wants to have a closer relationship with each of us... that means talking with him!
Points to ponder:
How do you get in touch with someone to help you?
Have you tried to just talk to God lately!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 47
August 26: Mark 7:14-23
Key Verse: Mark 7:15
there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.’
Devotion:
If you have been following the lectionary over the last few week you may well have come across this a few times already because it has been covered in a few Gospels.
It is not what we eat or drink that is going to defile ourselves, but what comes out of our hearts and mouths! We do not have to give into the garbage which we eat, drink, watch or listen to. We do not have to copy it... but we often do.
So the sin is not the watching, eating, drinking etc but what we do with that which we consume. We can continue to do what is right and we can continue to follow God's will in our lives - even when we are consuming bad stuff.
But, when the only things we consume are bad things, we learn to do those things and way in our lives, so the more likely we are to regurgitate that stuff; that is why we warn against bad stuff in our lives
Points to ponder:
What sort of things are you learning in your life through living?
Do you have the strength to go against the flow of garbage in?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 26
August 25: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
Key Verse: 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction.
Devotion:
How many times have you seen someone on a street corner holding a sign that says "The end is nigh" or "God is coming" or other words like that.
Most of the time people have banners like that up to try and spark a reaction from the passerby, not because it is true that God will come back at some stage, but because they want a reaction. Is it right?
It seems like many people back in the times of the Net Testament were doing the same thing and trying to get a reaction from the people, trying to get them to be scared and give in to what they are saying.
God does not teach us to be like that. He teaches us to be honest and open about things. To look at the words in the bible and portray the truth to others so they can make their mind up in all fairness.
Points to ponder:
Do you use scare tactics to see your wares?
God simply lays down the truth and allows you to make an informed decision - be fair!